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General discussion

Nursing Student help!

Aug 13, 2005 6:33AM PDT

I am a nursing student beginning clinicals this fall. It has been strongly recommended (key word "strongly") to purchase a PDA. We will be using them for mainly refernce materials such as Davis' drug guides and dosage calculators and so forth. I read the forum from Brazilian Girlie and found it useful but I still have questions.

What about the HP iPAQ's? I like the Dell idea (My pc is a dell 8300). One response was that Dell's are generally lower priced. I kind of disagree on that because as I purchased my PC there were a lot of hidden costs such as having to buy the Windows XP.

As I was reading some Dell Axim reviews that was also an issue was that there bundle was a bit weak.

I was looking at the reviews and I am now more confused thatn ever. The only decision that I have made is to go the pocket pc route beacuse of the exchangeable battery.

Any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

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HP vs Dell...
Aug 13, 2005 9:19AM PDT

First, given what you are going to be going through in a month or so, I suggest doing a lot of research into a product called Tylenol. It should be listed as number one on the list of requirements you received, as it's going to become your best friend. Wink Basically, that's my way of saying ''good luck,'' as I know how hectic your upcoming year's going to be.

While the differences are great when comparing HP and Dell, Dell has the edge on PDAs. (However, when it comes to computers, my HP is still number one.) Both companies offer the same features with nearly identical hardware and the same OS (currently Windows Mobile 2003SE). The only real difference on this aspect is that the OS is customized by the manufacturer, allowing a few addins to be made. However, aside from HP's ''media companion'' interface, they're almost indistinguishable.

As far as accessories go, they both come with the same package...PDA, cradle, power cable, operating CD, etc. But, HP has the edge here by offering accessories in all major stores...Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. Dell, on the other hand, requires you to buy everything directly from them...no late night runs for a spare part (more like a couple week wait while you come up with excuses Wink). HP also comes with more free software on their CD, but the couple of free utilities and occasional game aren't deal breakers. (Dell's ''weak bundle'' is because a lot of their software is only trial versions.)

However, Dell more than makes up for these ''shortcomings.'' They offer a full 1-year warrenty, while HP's is limited to just 90-days...big difference, especially since support can only be obtained directly from the manufacturer. (Good luck finding a local PDA repair shop that's authorized to work on your device.) Then, when you add on the extra $100 for an HP with similar specs, Dell's there waiting with open arms. Grin

Hope this helps,
John


P.S. It's important to note that with a PDA, you obtain OS upgrades from your manufacturer...NOT Microsoft. (The software must be customized for your specific device.) Any glitches usually are specific to your model, and are handeled by Dell/HP/etc. Also, Windows Mobile 5.0 is to be released shortly, and is limited to certain models. (The X50 will receive a free upgrade if you buy now, but the X30 is slowly being ''retired,'' and will not receive the upgrade. I'm unsure about particular HP models.)

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Thanks
Aug 13, 2005 1:04PM PDT

THank you very much for your valuable insight. I am going to keep looking into Dells. I just wish that there were other sources to get them from Sad

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some Palm OS suggestions
Aug 22, 2005 5:09AM PDT

first off, i know www.brighthand.com has forums by industry for palm, and perhaps even for PPC as well. You can find Nursing/medical boards and ask your fellow med industry peers there. They'll surely have advice on what software is available, pricing, hardware suggestions, and even first hand experiences of their studies with their PDAs. www.1src.com and wqww.PalmInfoCenter.com may also offer Nursing specific info as well.

Try to get some info on Nursing/med specific software, as windows, Mac, and Linux users alike will tell you that they are converts or also users of those OSes for the software.

As well as for general Palm info, virtually all do not have replaceable batteries. Depending on usage, li-ion batteries should last at least 2 years, and up to 3.5 years. 1 year is kinda rare, and usually can indicate a defect. Honestly, some ppl replace PDAs often, so that's not an issue. If so, consider an ext warranty which would also cover battery defects.

On a single charge you should be fine, as even with that moderate usage u can fully charge it once a day (usually at night when sleeping). You could consider buying an extra wall outlet cradle/cable to use at work. Don't know if this'll work out. Try to talk to some of your peers online and elsewhere on this. For ppl who work in offices like myself, I'm tied to my PC which makes having an extra cradle at my desk truly all i'll ever need for my power needs. Nursing students may be running around so much that this may be less feasible.

There r also portable power units. Some or pocketable with PDA + unit + batteries installed. Others not so much

Finally, good price or not like buying Dell PCs depends on your budget, what u buy, and how well u shop. For high end PCs like the gaming Dimension XPS... you're almost alwasy better off building your own. For low end, go for it. For mid end like the Dimension 4700 and 8300, try to get deals, online coupons, and promos from outside sites like TechBargain.com (40% off selected purchases, -$750 off m910 laptop, etc.). Inside deals are like Dell having free shipping, RAM upgrade, Ultrashapr LCD monitor discount, free other possible useless crap, etc.

By the same token, the Dell x50V can be bought as cheaply as $325 from the MSRP of $500. Realistically, shoot for $380 to $440.

Hope this helps. If possible, Let us know what u end up getting and happy shopping

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Hi
Jun 16, 2016 8:32AM PDT

My name is Marcy and I live in Virginia. Whatever computer program or software that your professor suggested is what I would purchase. If you have a choice or options, then I would go to a store like Best Buy or another computer store and ask them what type of computer or software is the best to purchase and use. You can also do an internet search and see which one is the best. After making your selections, write down how they compare on a piece of paper and then buy what you need. I hope this helps you out. I wish you the best in your nursing school experience. Marcy, CNA

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Please check the dates of posts....
Jun 16, 2016 8:38AM PDT

This thread was started and previously last replied to in 2005. I imagine the original poster resolved this issue about 11 years ago. Thread closed.